Free Outdoor Concerts in Boston: Summer 2019

One of the best things about Boston in the summer: You’re never far away from a free concert happening almost every day of the week outside under the sun or stars. Here’s a comprehensive list of free summer concert series and festivals in parks, public squares, beer gardens, and more.

(See all #freeconcerts this summer, listed chronologically and displayed on one map.)

Berklee Summer in the City

Berklee College of Music students, faculty, and alumni will perform more than 400 free concerts at notable venues in and around Boston as part of Berklee's Summer in the City concert series.

— Mon-Fri through 9/27: Summer Concerts at Brewer Fountain Plaza
— Tuesdays through 9/17: Summer Concerts at Kendall Square
— Thurs-Fri through 10/4: Summer Concerts at Macy's
— Thursdays through 8/27: Summer Concerts at Atlantic Wharf
— Thurs/Tues through 8/29: Summer Concerts at Kendall Center
— Thursdays, 6/27, 7/25 + 8/29: Berklee Greenway Concert Series
— Thursdays through 9/5: Summer Concerts at Club Passim
— Thursdays through 9/26: Summer Concerts at The Street
— Thursdays through 8/1: Summer Concerts at Charlestown Navy Yard
— Alternate Sundays through 7/28: Summer Concerts at Longfellow House
— Sundays, 7/7 to 9/1: Summer Concerts at Spectacle Island
— Sundays, 7/7, 8/4 + 9/8: 2Life Courtyard Concert Series
— Mondays, 7/8 to 8/30: Regattabar Summer Courtyard Series
— Tuesdays, 7/16 to 7/30: Sunset Concerts at Symphony Park
— Fridays, 7/12 to 8/2: Summer Concerts at Sam Adams Park at Faneuil Hall
— Thursdays, 7/18 to 8/15: Hyde Park Summer Garden Concert Series

Boston Public Library Concerts in the Courtyard

One of Boston’s most beautiful settings, the courtyard of the Central Library in Copley Square is filled with music during free, one-hour concerts throughout the summer. The courtyard hosts music that ranges from jazz to classical and from world to folk.

— Wednesday concerts from 6-7 p.m. through 8/28
— Friday concerts from 12-1 p.m. through 8/30

Boston Harbor Hotel Summer in the City

Boston Harbor Hotel’s annual Summer in The City entertainment series returns for its 21st season with each night sporting a different theme.

— Tuesdays through 8/27: Pop-Soul Tuesdays
— Wednesdays through 8/28: Rat Pack Wednesdays
— Thursdays through 8/29: Blues Barge Thursdays

Boston Calling Block Parties

The Boston Calling Block Party series brings free concerts to Dewey Square across from South Station. Stop by every Thursday from 5-8 p.m. all summer to check out live bands, play lawn games, or enjoy the cash bar.

— 6/27: East Coast Soul
— 7/11: Bourbon Chasers
— 7/18: Nonplussed
— 7/25: Rob Pagnano
— 8/1: Gold Velvet Sofa
— 8/8: Sean McMahon
— 8/15: The Almighty Buck
— 8/22: East Coast Soul
— 8/29: Nonplussed

Thursdays on the Lawn at the Loring-Greenough House

The Loring-Greenough House and the Jamaica Plain Tuesday Club present free Thursdays on the Lawn featuring rotating musicians, food trucks, special events and more. Thursdays on the Lawn begin at 3:30 p.m. and run until dark.

— 6/27: Hive
— 7/11: The Mighty Silverbacks
— 7/18: Ron Goldman
— 8/1: The Lemonshiners
— 8/9: The Mighty Silverbacks

Tree House Beer Garden at the Prudential Center

Tree House Brewing Company teams up with Berklee to present Thursday evenings with music, beer, wine, and food on the lawn of the south garden in the Prudential Center. Concerts begin at 5 p.m. and will feature eight Tree House beers on draft.

— 6/27: Jackson Lundy
— 7/18: Lick Neon
— 7/25: ViVi

Aeronaut Allston's Musical Beer Garden Pop-up

Aeronaut Brewing Company’s pop-up beer garden on Harvard Ave. in Allston returns every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday with one of the area’s best-curated selections of emerging local artists. Check the Facebook page for an updated list of performers.

— Wed-Fri through 9/13: AERONAUT Allston's Musical Beer Garden Pop-up

Titus Sparrow Park Summer Concert Series

Titus Sparrow Park in the South End hosts free summer concerts every Wednesday night through August from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

— 6/26: Fatal Flaw
— 7/3: Amy Kucharik & Friends with Benefits
— 7/10: Legends of Summer
— 7/17: Beantown Swing Orchestra
— 7/31: Booty Vortex
— 8/7: Slim Jim and the Mad Cows
— 8/14: Pan Neubean Steel
— 8/21: Eva Davenport
— 8/28: Pete Kilpatrick Band

Free Summer Concerts at Condon Shell

Medford’s Condon Shell hosts free concerts on three Thursdays this summer. Bring a blanket and enjoy food from the nearby farmers’ market.

— 6/27: Jennifer Truesdale
— 7/25: Lydia Harrell
— 8/29: Kevin So

Harvard Common Spaces Concert Series

Club Passim and Harvard University bring free live music to the Science Center Plaza every other Friday at noon through September 27.

— 7/5: Alisa Amador
— 7/19: Hayley Sabella
— 8/19: Sheila Del Bosque & Nacho Gonzalez
— 8/16: Pretty Saro
— 8/30: Liv Greene
— 9/13: Rakish
— 9/27: Fabiola Mendez Duo

ZUMIX Summer Concert Series

East Boston-based music education nonprofit hosts free summer concerts Sunday evenings at Piers Park, featuring one of the area’s best views of the Boston skyline.

— 7/7: Pangea
— 7/14: Dutch Rebelle
— 7/21: Plural
— 7/28: Emerging Artists Night
— 8/4: Kina Zore
— 8/11: Tides
— 8/25: Salsa y Control

Owl’s Nest Allston Live Music Sundays

Night Shift Brewing’s riverside beer garden features live music on four Sundays in July and August.

— 7/7: Judes & the Hutch
— 7/14: Young Frontier
— 7/21: Rival Island
— 8/4: The Rockery

NEMPAC Jazz in the Park

North End Music and Performing Arts Center presents a series of four concerts to the North End Greenway Park, every Tuesday evening in July from 6 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. The series brings together a mix of different cultures through contemporary jazz sounds including Latin, funky, and Mediterranean, and world music.

— 7/9: MIXCLA
— 7/16: Gabrielle Goodman
— 7/23: Scanzonati
— 7/30: Sawaari

City Square Park Summer Concert Series 2019

Charlestown’s City Square Park hosts free monthly concerts beginning at 5:30 p.m.

— 7/10: The East Coast Soul Band
— 8/14: Dirty Water Brass Band
— 9/11: Henry Acker

ParkARTS Outdoor Neighborhood Concerts

The Boston Parks and Recreation Department presents the 2019 ParkARTS Citywide Neighborhood Concert Series from July 10 to August 5 in parks citywide.

— 7/10: Chosen @ Horatio Harris Park
— 7/11: Joshua Tree @ Hemenway Playground
— 7/16: The Nephrok Allstars @ Brighton Common
— 7/18: Fast Times @ Billings Field
— 7/23: Sam Robbins @ Adams Park
— 7/25: Soul City Band @ Blackstone Park
— 7/26: Magnum Sound @ Clifford Park
— 7/31: The Rebels Tom Petty Tribute @ Medal of Honor Park
— 8/5: The Woo Factor @ Hunt/Almont Park

Harborwalk Sounds at the ICA

The Institute of Contemporary Art and Berklee have partnered for more than 10 years for Harborwalk Sounds. Performances are free and open to the public on Thursday nights at 6 p.m. from July 11 to August 29. Check out the museum’s dynamic exhibitions -- admission is free after 5 p.m. on Thursdays -- then head to the ICA’s outdoor grandstand on the waterfront.

— 7/11: Riddim Symphony
— 7/18: Sheila del Bosque
— 7/25: One Drop: A Bob Marley Tribute
— 8/1: Tristan Simone
— 8/2: Dreion
— 8/3: Clave & Bluesr
— 8/4: Them Fantasies
— 8/5: Malaya

Tito Puente Latin Music Series

Taking place Thursdays in July and August at outdoor locations across Boston, the six-concert Tito Puente Latin Music Series presents a soundscape of live Latin music with a strong salsa influence in parks around the city.

— 7/11: The Mambo Rican Group @ O'Day Park
— 7/18: Gilenny Gi with Eric Germàn @ O'Day Park
— 7/25: Alex Avear and Mango Blue @ Mozart Park
— 8/1: 3nity @ O'Day Park
— 8/8: Alea @ Mission Hill Playground
— 8/15: En Talla @ LoPresti Park

Somerville Community Growing Center Summer Song Series

An urban garden located on a hillside just outside Union Square, the Somerville Community Growing Center hosts a series of Thursday night concerts in July, August, and September featuring a wide range of genres.

— 7/11: Musicals! A Sing Along with Carrie Furniss
— 7/18: Zing! Yiddish Sing Along for All Ages
— 7/25: Yani Batteau
— 8/8: 440 Gypsy Jazz
— 8/15: Receita de Samba Duo
— 8/24: Gloucester Hornpipe and Clog Society
— 9/19: She Boom

GroundBeat Riverfront Music Series @ the Hatch Shell

Each month from June to September, the Esplanade Association partners with a different local nonprofit to showcase a diverse set of performers and musical styles at the Hatch Shell.

— 7/15: Kadence Arts
— 8/19: BAMS Fest
— 9/16: 'Froca at the Hatch Shell

Elma Lewis Playhouse in the Park

Founded in 1966, the Elma Lewis Playhouse in Franklin Park has hosted magnificent musical acts such as Duke Ellington and the Billy Taylor Trio. The Tuesday evening concerts showcase talent from the local communities and neighborhoods.

— 7/16: E Water Band
— 7/23: Athene Wilson
— 7/30: Wali Ali
— 8/6: Reggae Night
— 8/13: Leon Beal and Friends
— 8/20: Motown Night Featuring AJ Smooth

Boston Landmarks Orchestra at the Hatch Shell

The Boston Landmarks Orchestra hosts a series of free concerts this summer at the Hatch Memorial Shell, celebrating the 90th anniversary of this annual tradition. Concerts will be held every Wednesday at 7 p.m. from July 17 to August 21.

— 7/17: Symphonic Space Odyssey: 50th Anniversary of the Moon Landing
— 7/24: Longwood Symphony Orchestra
— 7/31: Deep River
— 8/7: Mercury Orchestra
— 8/14: Annual Green Concert
— 8/21: Landmarks Dance Night

Dorothy Curran Wednesday Night Concert Series

Now celebrating 46 years as Boston's longest-running outdoor concert series, these performances at City Hall Plaza feature exciting entertainment for music lovers of all ages.

— 7/17: Total Access: A Tribute to the Band Chicago
— 7/24: A Rock and Roll Reunion, featuring Charlie Thomas' Drifters and La La Brooks
— 8/7: Journey through the Greatest Decades of Motown Funk, featuring Hipshot Band
— 8/14: Disco Night Featuring Tavares

Outdoor Music Festivals + Special Events

If all those free concert series aren’t enough for you, don’t miss your chance to see free live music at one of Boston’s many festivals and special one-off concerts.

— 7/3 Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular Preview Concert with Queen Latifah
— 7/4 Boston Pops July 4th Fireworks Spectacular
— 7/6 + 7/7: Lawn on D Summer Block Party
— 7/8: Boston Harbor Now Arts on the Edge Cruise
— 7/13: Davis Square ArtBeat Festival
— 7/13: JP Porchfest
— 7/17: Hyde Square Viva El Latin Quarter Summer Concert
— 7/19: Somer Fest @ Bow Market
— 7/20: Roxbury Rocks Music Festival
— 7/24: Swingin' in the Fens
— 7/27: Vocal Revolution A Cappella Music Festival @ Herter Park
— 7/28: Cambridge Jazz Festival
— 8/3: Montell Jordan at the St. Agrippina di Mineo Feast
— 8/4: Jazz at the Fort @ Highland Park
— 8/11: GospelFest @ City Hall Plaza
— 8/30 + 8/31: Boston Jazz Fest

Photo courtesy Danita Jo/Institute of Contemporary Art Boston

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